Hand and Wrist Fractures

How Do You Get A Wrist Fracture?

There are 2 long bones in the forearm that connect down into the wrist. These are called the radius and the ulna and when we talk about a fractured wrist it is usually one of these bones that is damaged. A fractured wrist most commonly occurs from a fall onto that hand and more often than not it is the radius bone that cracks. You may have been diagnosed with a Colles fracture or Smiths fracture - these are both fractures of the radius, the direction of the break determines which one it is.

How Do I Know If I Fractured My Wrist?

Often you will hear and feel a crack and wrist pain at the time of the incident and swelling comes on quite quickly. An x-ray will confirm the diagnosis and determine the course of action needed.

What Can You Do For A Fractured Wrist?

The bone will need time to set and heal initially. This might be done with a soft cast, a hard cast, or in more severe cases surgery may be needed to reset the bone. Once the bone has set and is getting stronger, then work can begin to treat the muscles and tendons around the fracture site to get these functioning properly again. The forearm and wrist will be very stiff when the cast is removed so intensive mobilisation at the earliest opportunity is recommended for the best outcomes. We would tend to see people at The Physiotherapy Place about 4-6 weeks post fracture to begin rehab.

How Long Does It Take For A Wrist Fracture To Heal?

Most simple fractures in the arm will take 6-8 weeks for 80-85% of healing to have happened. There will still be bone remodelling and strengthening happening after this time so some aches and stiffness are likely to be present even a few months after the incident. In most cases the bone will heal really well, it is the residual joint stiffness and muscle weakness that takes longer to come back and can cause more limitations further down the line.

Can You Move Your Wrist If It's Fractured?

It is usually difficult to move your wrist when it is fractured. Having said that, if you have a lot of pain but can still move the wrist then you should get it checked out.

What Exercise Can I Do With A Fractured Wrist?

Whilst your wrist is immobilised, you can still exercise your fingers, elbow and shoulder to keep those areas moving and the muscles working. Once the wrist is free again then range of motion exercises and stretches will help to get the mobility back and gentle strengthening can begin. At this stage the bone will be strong so you can push your wrist as much as the pain allows.

What Will A Physio Do?

A physiotherapist will guide you through your exercise program to make sure that you are doing the correct exercises for that stage in the healing process. At the 6 week mark, manual mobilisation and stretching of the wrist and hand can begin. These few weeks are crucial in regaining as much range of motion again in the wrist before any capsular stiffness or scar tissue sets in.